You want a healthy, attractive smile. If you are like most people, you know that keeping all your teeth will help you maintain that natural, confident smile. However, you may not realize that your gum health is vital for keeping your teeth intact.
Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. Fortunately, we can and do offer gum disease treatments for our patients at Smiles of Orland Park. We prefer to help you prevent this problem whenever possible. If you want to fight gum infections, brush and floss every day at home and schedule regular visits to our office in Orland Park, IL. Call 708-858-9591 today to set up your next appointment.
Change Doesn’t Happen Overnight
You may not notice the gradual changes that signal a gum infection. Healthy pink gums don’t turn beet red in a matter of hours. Firm gums don’t swell up in minutes, either. As a result, you may not notice those changes while they are happening.
You should, however, be aware of any time your gums are bleeding. This is a sign there is a problem. This also is often a clue that you may not be flossing as frequently as you should. (The American Dental Association recommends doing this daily.)
Flossing cleans the parts of your mouth that a toothbrush can’t reach as well. Flossing dislodges food particles from between your teeth. It also can remove plaque buildup and harmful bacteria between your teeth and gums.
If you ignore these signs, the plaque can harden form tartar. That can irritate your gums, which can lead to an infection. As the infection gets worse, you may notice bad breath has become a constant problem. You might pus leaking out of your gums, and you may notice your teeth start to feel loose like they might fall out.
It is true that some people feel soreness due to periodontal problems, but many people never feel any pain. That’s why it’s so important to take a proactive approach to prevent gum problems or to treat it as soon as you can.
Three Ways We Can Help
Our first step when treating gum infections is usually a deep cleaning. This procedure is called scaling and root planing. It’s similar to what we do during a routine cleaning except we are cleaning the roots of your affected, which means cleaning below the gumline.
For more serious infections, we can use a dental laser to remove infected tissue. The laser is a simple solution. By using the laser, we effectively evaporate the bad tissue and seal the good tissue without the need for stitches in most cases. Studies have shown that lasers also shorten your recovery time compared to gum surgery.
As a follow-up, we may prescribe a topical antibiotic. Arestin can be applied directly to your gums. It kills the remaining bacteria to reduce your risk of a recurring infection.
Act Now To Protect Your Healthy Gums
Whether you want to fight gum disease or avoid it entirely, you can find help at Smiles of Orland Park. Contact us online or call 708-858-9591 to request your next appointment with us.